ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Charit no. 1135421 y ~~PO~~
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Year ended 31[st ] December 2024
Page 1
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
An unincorporated association affiliated to the United Reformed Church governed by Trust Deed adopted 14 October 2009.
Officers and Advisers
Trustees and Elders Meeting
Jacqueline Bebbington Stephen Bebbington (Treasurer) Andrew Clare Lesley Clare Fiona Drysdale Christopher Gill (appointed Sep 2024) Paul Gill (retired Sep 2024) Elizabeth Howells (co-opted Sep 2024) Charlotte Leonard (retired July 2024) Angela Liddell Annette Mace Jacqueline Pasifull (Joint Church Secretary) Jennifer Sheehan Christina Wheeler (Joint Church Secretary)
Elders Meeting in attendance
Revd Margaret Collins Revd Wendy Swan Ian Moore – Interim Moderator
Advisers
Property Officer: Ian Purton (retired 31 December 2024) Independent Examiner: Jonathan Ross
Address
Lynwood Grove, Orpington, BR6 0BG www.stjohnsurc.org.uk
Appointment of Trustees Those members of the Elders’ Meeting who are qualified to serve as charity trustees are collectively the Charity Trustees, responsible under the Charities Act 2006 for the day-to-day oversight, management, safety and insurance of all property and financial resources. Elders are ordained for life and inducted to serve on the Elders’ Meeting for a minimum of four years with the option to extend to a maximum of eight years. Except in exceptional circumstances (e.g., a high level of retirements or where a serving Elder is called to serve as an Office Bearer) they must then stand down for a period of one year before being appointed to the same or another position.
Objects of the Charity
The object of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church.
Page 2
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Membership
| Membership | |
|---|---|
| Number on roll 1stJanuary 2024 |
174 |
| Profession/Reaffirmation of Faith |
1 |
| Transfer from other Churches/associate roll | |
| New Members | |
| SUB TOTAL |
175 |
| Move to Associate roll | 15 |
| Transfer to other Churches | |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Resignations | 3 |
| Total on Membership as at 31stDec 2024 | **154 *** |
*There is a discrepancy in the numbers that
cannot be found. The actual number of members at the end of 2024 stands at 149
Main Activities St John’s United Reformed Church is a centre for Christian worship and faith development. It runs, sponsors and supports many voluntary groups and organisations serving the local community.
The work of the Church is organised into teams as follows:
Church in Community Church and World Faith Development Finance Pastoral Care Property Publicity and Promotions Worship Youth and Children
St John’s Church runs the following organisations:
Just Babies Little Monsters St John’s Pre-School Thursday Club
St John’s Church sponsors and supports Scouting and Guiding groups.
Details of the Activities of the above teams and organisations can be found on the website or from the Church Secretaries.
Main Achievements
The provision of regular acts of worship, service to the community and running and sponsoring various activities for all age groups.
Good Practice
Good Practice is about establishing and maintaining procedures designed to safeguard children, young people and other vulnerable personnel in the church. All adults in the church are responsible for creating a safe caring Christian environment which prevents neglect, sexual or emotional abuse of children, young people or vulnerable adults.
St John’s has adopted the URC Good Practice – Safeguarding Children and Young People in the Church sixth edition published 23[rd] October 2023 (GP6) as the basis for its Safeguarding Policy. A copy of the St John’s Safeguarding Policy is available for inspection in the Link and on the website. Every church activity or group which involves working with children and young people is responsible for ensuring activities are
Page 3
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
structured in accordance with this policy to minimise situations where abuse can occur. Non-church run organisations are required to confirm that they have made their own Good Practice provisions. The Policy was last reviewed in September 2024.
Two safeguarding co-ordinators are appointed to co-ordinate and implement child protection and vulnerable adult policies and be a first line of communication for adults and children on any issue of Good Practice including reporting suspected abuse.
The Good Practice Policy Statement (available in the Link Vestibule) gives the framework within which Good Practice procedures and activities are structured and monitored at St John’s.
Ministry
For all of 2024 St John’s was in vacancy. Ian Moore from Emmanuel West Wickham was appointed as Interim Moderator and subsequently at the Church Meeting on Sunday 17[th] November 2024 a call was issued to Revd. Sohail Ejaz which was accepted. Sohail will be inducted on Saturday 15[th] March. Worship during 2024 has been led by members and groups from within St John’s as well as visiting ministers/lay preachers.
Jacqueline Pasifull
Joint Church Secretary
February 2025
Report of the Treasurer
Statement of Financial Activity
It has been a positive year for the Charity’s finances with the receipt of significant donations totalling £424,416, this has resulted in a surplus of £393,605 for the year. Ignoring the two most significant sums and associated costs (£9,911) the charity had a deficit of £20,900.
Incoming resources from charitable activities amounted to gross £646,872 and after removal of significant donations £222,416 (2023: £257,750). Offerings were down by 8% and hall lettings were slightly below the previous year. Preschool income was positive resulting in a trading surplus before service charges of £2,010 (2022: £6,238).
Expenditure on charitable activities amounted to £253,267 and after removal of costs associated with the legacy £243,356 (2023: £282,731). The additional legacy has enabled the charity to increase its reserves this year.
Legacies & Donations
The charity was the very grateful beneficiary of legacies again this year.
The most significant was the final payment from the legacy initially received in 2023. The executors had to obtain title to the second property in the estate and confirm that the charity was the beneficial owner before it could be sold. This has been achieved and the residue of the estate has now been received. The value of £396,936 was slightly less (7%) than anticipated last year.
The charity does not expect that it will receive such a significant legacy in future years.
Reserves
Total Reserves amount to £1,006,342 (2022: £612,724) Movements and classifications of reserves are shown on page 9.
Page 4
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Outlook
Thanks to the legacy from our late member the Charity will be in a strong financial position for the next few years. A new full time minister is to be appointed in late March next year and along with the trustees will be developing plans for the use of the monies in meeting our charitable objectives. It is expected that the monies will be split between rebuilding our reserves, undertaking a number of short to medium term projects within the church and local community and appropriate long-term investments that will provide additional income for the future work of the charity.
Day to day finances continue to be challenging in the current financial climate. We have however managed to keep energy costs under control following the end of a 3 year contract. The Government have made major changes to funding in the Early Years education sector and we still have significant concern over the impact this may have on the Preschool.
The retirement flat that is currently being leased is providing an ongoing income and provides an asset that can be realised in due course if required.
Special Collections
During the year, members and friends raised £396 for Commitment for Life
Acknowledgements
I would like to express my thanks to the Finance Team comprising Gill Webb our FWO secretary, Alison Bruce for managing the hall bookings, Frank Liddell and Gordon Coventry for their accounting advice and Lynne Gill for running the day-to-day accounts packages.
I am extremely grateful to Jonathon Ross for taking on the role as our Independent Examiner.
Most of all, I would like to thank members and friends who generously support the work of the Church with regular and periodic gifts. Thank you.
Stephen Bebbington
Treasurer March 2025
Page 5
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Page 6
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Statement of Financial Activity 1 January 204 to 31 December 2024
| Incoming Resources from Charitable Activities Freewill Offerings Loose Offerings Gift Aid Tax Refunds Legacies and Donations Uniformed Organisations Hall Lettings Community Events Pre-School Babies, Toddlers and Sunday Fun Club Thursday Club Solar Feed-in Tariff Other Income Synod Grants Incoming resources Expenditure on Charitable Activities URC Ministry and Mission Fund Worship and Ministry Youth ministry Administration Legacy expenses Publicity and Publications Community Events Pre-School Youth and children Thursday Club Premises - Maintenance: Repairs and Refurbishments Equipment Servicing Consumables Caretaking, Cleaning and Gardening Manse Maintenance and Council Tax Gas Electricity Water, Telephone, Waste disposal Insurance Depreciation Fixed Assets Charitable Activities NET RESOURCES |
2024 2023 £ £ 72,650 78,352 4,086 4,119 19,421 21,082 438,439 459,342 500 2,700 26,640 31,510 100 59,028 64,690 546 691 1,560 3,606 4,027 4,397 19,875 6,618 0 35,643 646,872 712,750 90,156 81,963 7,368 9,116 113 430 5,227 5,654 9,911 4,790 132 434 0 100 57,018 58,452 352 1,053 166 2,072 8,880 66,118 4,749 2,651 779 943 38,362 21,252 3,680 4,118 4,268 4,683 3,809 3,345 3,179 2,973 7,510 7,134 7,607 10,240 253,266 287,521 393,606 425,229 |
|---|---|
Page 7
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024
| 2024 £ Fixed assets Audio Visual at cost 32,652 Less depreciation 29,385 Boiler at cost 29,626 Less depreciation 17,776 Atkins court 225,000 Other Assets at cost 13,736 Less depreciation 13,223 Fixed Assets Current assets CAF Bank accounts and cash Nat West Bank accounts Pre-School CAF bank accounts and cash Metro Bank Accounts Debtors HMRC Gift Aid Receivable Total Current assets Liabilities Creditors Agency Collections Pre-School Creditors Total Liabilities NET ASSET SURPLUS Reserves Car General Premises Thursday Club Pre-School Restricted Trinity F&C Gray legacy TOTAL RESERVES |
2024 £ 3,267 11,850 225,000 513 240,630 513,366 128,241 25,205 21,343 - 79,190 767,345 1,634 - - 1,634 1,006,341 23,750 48,628 45,500 1,000 20,000 60,000 807,464 1,006,342 |
2023 2023 £ £ 32,652 26,120 6,532 29,626 14,813 14,813 225,000 225,000 13,736 11,844 1,892 248,237 135,491 126,982 23,445 20,100 - 59,769 365,787 1,050 - 250 1,300 612,724 23,750 72,264 45,500 1,000 20,000 60,000 390,210 612,724 |
|---|---|---|
C Wheeler Joint Church Secretary
S Bebbington, Treasurer
Page 8
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
| Movement in Reserves Unrestricted Designated Funds Thursday Club Pre-School Car Premises |
31-Dec Net Transfers 31-Dec 2023 Incoming/ between 2024 Outgoing Reserves Resources £ £ £ £ 1,000 1394 -1394 1,000 20,000 2,010 -2,010 20,000 23,750 23,750 45,500 45,500 |
|---|---|
| Total designated 2 Undesignated Funds General Reserve Gray Legacy 1 |
90,250 3,404 -3,404 90,250 42048 -6735 13315 48,628 420,439 396,936 -9,911 807,464 |
| Total Unrestricted Restricted Funds Trinity F & C Total reserves |
552,737 393,605 0 946,342 60,000 60,000 |
| 612,737 393,605 0 1,006,342 |
Notes.
- Gray legacy recorded separately for 2024,
Costs incured for receipt of legacy transferred to General Reserve
- All designated reserves maintained at 2023 level
Restricted reserves are subject to limitations on their use, imposed by legislation or the wishes of the donor. Other reserves are available for the general purposes of the church and some of these have been designated for specific items of future expenditure .
Page 9
ST JOHN’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ORPINGTON CHARITY Charity number 1135421
Accounting Policies Accounting convention and basis of accounting
The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention and are prepared under the SORP and FRS 102. The income and expenditure dealt with in these accounts is accounted for on an accruals basis. The accounts include all of the transactions of the Church, the Pre-School and the Toddler Group and Thursday Club.
The trustees have reviewed the accounts and are happy that the charity is an ongoing concern given the current income and current reserves.
There have been no transactions with related parties during the year.
Tax refunds
Donations made to the Church through Gift Aid enable the Church to recover the basic rate tax associated with those donations. Where the tax refund related to donations made in the year has not been recovered at the year-end it is brought into the accounts as an amount recoverable.
Land and Buildings
The Church, the halls and the manse are the property of the United Reformed Church rather than St John's.
The Atkins court flat, a retirement property, is owned by St John’s and is held as an investment property. After initial valuation by estate agents the value of the property has been slightly reduced reflecting recent falls in value of similar properties in the area.
Assets
Assets acquired which have been provided for in reserves held for that purpose are written off in the period in which they are made. Other assets acquired in excess of £2,500 in value are capitalised and treated as fixed assets when purchased and are written down to their estimated residual value over their expected useful lives, currently 5 years for cars and 10 years for all other assets.
Page 10